Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen on Sunday called on the public to get their booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines, saying that the booster jabs are necessary to strengthen their immunity against the highly contagious disease.

The southeast Asian nation launched a national vaccination drive against the disease in February 2021, with China being the key vaccine supplier.

So far, 14.88 million people, or 93 percent of the country's total population of 16 million, have obtained at least one shot, the Health Ministry said, adding that 14.14 million, or 88 percent, have been fully vaccinated with two required doses.

Also, some 8.22 million, or 51 percent, have got a third dose, and 1.36 million, or 8.5 percent, have had a fourth dose.

Hun Sen said all eligible Cambodians must receive at least three vaccine shots to strengthen their immunity and advised the health authorities to focus their vaccination campaign on garment factory employees, construction workers, market vendors and students.

"I'd like to appeal to all people in Cambodia to get their third doses ... in order to strengthen herd immunity and ensure that our full reopening will not see any setbacks," he said in an audio message released publicly.

Cambodia has fully resumed its socioeconomic activities and reopened its borders to vaccinated travelers without quarantine since last November.

The prime minister said that thanks to the effectiveness of vaccines, Cambodia did not see any sign of COVID-19 resurgence after the kingdom celebrated its traditional new year from April 14 to 16, during which some 4.6 million tourists traveled nationwide.

"During the Khmer New Year, a lot of people were in close contact with each other, but there were no (mass) infections," he said.

The country registered 16 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday with new zero fatalities, bringing the country's confirmed total cases since the pandemic began to 136,216, including 3,056 deaths, according to the Health Ministry.